Gonna like it here!

[morevacant]

Well, it's not much, but it's home. Lydia grimly shuts the door on the very basic looking student hall. It's right on the border of Lambeth and Lewisham, just about in the good side, the safe side, to keep her mother from fussing. On the other hand, what mothers don't know can't hurt them, and Lydia is quite thrilled to be living so close to the border. For her at least, it's a little bit edgy, a little bit exciting. Even if it's thoroughly grotty as well.

(Mid day, March 11th, Lost in Lambeth)
Lunch beckons. After a long morning of moving in, Lydia's finally rid herself of her mother and she is absolutely exhausted. And starving.

Except, she's not quite sure where she is. Or where to go to get to a Starbucks. But they're everywhere in London, right? Right. Suddenly, she wishes she'd paid a little bit more attention to her governess… there was a spell for this, she's sure. But, it's too late for that. Lydia slips on a fur collared leather coat and sets out for a wander.


( Morning, 13th March, down along the Thames in Lambeth and Westminster)

So ostentatiously, Lydia's moved to London to study at Kings. In reality, she's supposed to be learning her craft from the witches of Circle Daybreak. In reality, she's shopping.

After such a small town, London's shops are just amazing, and Lydia's debit card flashes in and out of her bag. Quite soon, her arms are laden with paper bags from the little boutiques that litter the edge of the Thames. It's a phone call from her mum that eventually distracts her from the shops, and she flops down on a bench looking out over the river.

"Yeh, mum. Yes, I'm studying? What? Oh, like the basics, you know. Like, I don't know. Charming makeup and making teapots sing…. Yes, it's a real thing. Why would I make something so silly up? Eurgh… Look, Mum, I've got to go.The next class is starting and these witches are mega intense. I'll talk to you later, right?"

She hangs up and grins sheepishly at whoever happened to be in earshot to witness that one.


(18th March, Shoreditch, 3AM)

It's late. Lydia's had way too much to drink and she's not entirely sure how to get back home. Though, she does live near the river. That much she knows.
She waits to sober up a bit, leaning against a wall as she watches other revellers fall into taxis. She's drunk her money away for the night, and lost her friends from her hall, but it doesn't matter, right? The walk can't be that far.
Feeling a bit better, she wanders off through the streets of Hackney. As soon as she finds the river, finds Tower Bridge, follows it all the way back, she'll be just fine.
Are those footsteps? She speeds up as much as her high heels will allow, drunken giggles all but ceased now.

Comments

[stauncherhearted]

On light feet, Nancy crosses the street toward her with a big smile. "I don't- I'm up in Islington," she confesses. Vampire boyfriend, all that. "But my brothers are down in Saffron Hill."

[morevacant]

Lydia doesn't really have a clue where those places are, but she doesn't want to look ignorant in front of her obviously street wise friend.
"Oh cool!" She exclaims. "I've heard the cool clubs are in Islington, right? Do you go often? I am so up for a proper party soon!"

[stauncherhearted]

She laughs, "Yeah- I've only really been to Fabric, though. And that was some time ago, anyway." Last year, and it had been a fae party. Truthfully, she wasn't much for the clubs- pity considering how much money she could get away with.

"But I'd be happy to go to a club or two with you- one of my friends actually sings at a sort of jazz bar in Islington. I know that's not the sort of club you were talking about, but that place's always good for a night."

[morevacant]

"Yeah?" She claps her hands in sheer excitement. "Oh yes, this is gonna be so much fun!Ooh and we need to go shopping - new dresses, shoes… maybe a bag?"
She wouldn't care which bar she was in, in fairness. She's never been to a club, so anything, even a jazz bar, will be a remarkable step up from that.

"And we can do pre-drinks at mine. I mean, the place is a hole, but if you can deal with like, a bit of dirt and maybe some mouldy pizza crusts then I guess it'll be alright?"

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy tosses her hair behind her shoulders and laughs. "Yea?" She hadn't had a proper going out girl's night since, oh gosh, since Kenzi. The thought stings, but she pushes it aside. "Oh gosh- no, we don't need to-" Nancy didn't like to needlessly shop. Her boyfriend may have been rich, but she tried to spend only her own money. He let her live with him, he got free food out of it, and all the sex he wanted, and she wanted to make her own money. As such, she was a bit stingy when it came to shopping.

"I mean, if you want to, by all means. I'm sure I've got something I can wear." Something that was a little more club and a little less street-corner.

"You'd do that? I mean, of course, I'd love to. I'm sure it's better than anything I grew up with, so I should be alright." She gives her an encouraging smile.

[morevacant]

Lydia goes to grab Nancy's hands, squealing in her excitement. "Eeek - yes, this is so happening!" She is so enthused, it's all she can do not to jump up and down like a child being promised a trip to Disney World. "But don't be silly - you can't wear old stuff. Everyone's already seen you - hey! We can swap clothes! We're nearly the same size, right?"

It takes a minute for Nancy's last comment to register; Lydia's posy student flat is better than Nancy's childhood home? Is it possible that Nancy's not well off? Not that it matters, but it's something Lydia's never really considered before, apart from, like, giggling at the people with Primark bags.

"Oh… right…" She feels suddenly awkward. "We can have pizza?" There. Everyone likes pizza, right?